This Is What Happy Looks Like

Like Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (2012), this sweet novel has a premise worthy of the movies. When a lonely teenage Hollywood heartthrob accidentally e-mails a 16-year-old girl in smalltown Maine, there is an immediate spark. Graham arranges to shoot his new movie in Ellie’s seaside town, surprising her with his true identity and leaving levelheaded Ellie feeling “wildly unbalanced.” This is partly due to Graham’s fame, but also because she fears the spotlight would expose a family secret. The cute, brief e-mails between Ellie and Graham showcase the rapid but authentic connection between them (putting aside that they would be far more likely to text each other in this situation). Because the book is told from both characters’ perspectives, readers will understand their vulnerabilities as they try to take their relationship into the real world. Ellie’s family secret may not seem severe enough for the consternation it creates, and readers may be exasperated by the dramas that keep the couple apart. However, the charming leads, smalltown backdrop, and absurdly romantic conceit will win hearts. Ages 15–up. Agent: Jennifer Joel, ICM. (Apr.)